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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD 2023-04-08) on February 23, 2023, related to the Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB23-01). Please be aware that AD 2023-04-08 takes precedence over MSB23-01 making the AD the governing document and rule for this issue.

Continental recently identified a potential safety of flight issue for aircraft equipped with Continental 360, 470, 520, and 550 series engines and replacement crankshaft assemblies. As the manufacturer of the part, Continental reported this to the authorities and released an MSB on February 13, 2023. MSB23-01 preemptively advises that an inspection should be performed to confirm that the crankshaft counterweight retaining ring was properly installed in new and rebuilt engines assembled between June 1, 2021, and February 7, 2023. This advice also applies to replacement crankshaft assemblies manufactured between June 1, 2021, through February 7, 2023. To further clarify, the MSB stated that Continental engines with over 200 hours may continue normal flight operations; however, this is no longer valid after the release of the AD. The AD takes precedence over the MSB and now requires an inspection of all affected engines and crankshaft assemblies listed in the MSB.

This page provides answers to some of the most asked questions regarding the MSB23-01 for crankshaft assemblies. Should you have additional questions, please review the full MSB or contact the Continental MSB Support Team. Source: ‚Continental‚.

Continental, a subsidiary of Continental Aerospace Technologies Holding Limited, announced its efforts today to expand the use of alternative fuels in select lower compression avgas engines. Continental® has submitted a formal application to the FAA, that if approved, would authorize the use of unleaded aviation gasoline in over 100 popular engine models including select O-200s, IO-360s, O-470s, and IO-470s. As the industry searches for a long-term fuel solution, Continental® considers 91UL and 94UL fuel as a transitional step in a long-term strategy to reach more sustainable aviation.

With the pending approval of this application, Continental® strives to enable aviators the opportunity to select a greener alternative. “While Continental offers Jet-A engines that utilize readily available heavy fuels, the majority of Continental aviators are flying behind an engine fueled by a lead avgas like 100LL,” said Dr David Dörner, Vice President of Global Research and Development. “If we want the future generations of aviators to enjoy the beauty of flight, it is imperative that the industry collaboratively evaluate alternatives and identify viable solutions. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to quality fuels, but by expanding fuel sources, aviators can choose to fly while being more environmentally responsible.”

As a part of Continental’s commitment to the future of general aviation, Continental® prioritized this group of engine models to conduct an extensive review on the impacts of alternative fuels in lower compression ratio engines. This performance study, held in conjunction with Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions’ (EAGLE) initiative, verified that the select powerplants perform as designed with the lower octane fuels. Continental’s testing scope includes other engine models and anticipates additional approvals in the future. Remain up to date on this topic by reviewing the service documents corresponding to your engine model. Pilots and operators should use only certified fuels for each engine application to ensure optimal performance and safety. Source: ‚Continental‘.